Lamu Senator-elect Julius Githuku has asked the national government to increase the budgetary allocation for the LAPSSET project which is expected to create a thousand direct and indirect jobs.
The Senator was speaking today in Kililana Port area during a tour of the Sh40 billion Lamu Port Project by the new elected county leaders with senior LAPSSET officials.
Senator-elect Githuku stated that the incoming national regime needs to invest more towards marketing and equipping the Lamu Port Project as a priority project that would uplift the plight of hundreds of unemployed youths.
Also present were members of the Adhoc Committee on the Operationalization of the Port of Lamu, co-chaired by Lamu County Commissioner Irungu Macharia and KPA General Manager in Charge of the Lamu Port.
“The LAPSSET project is a key installation that if prioritized would create jobs and opportunities across the six counties through which it passes,” Githuku said.
He further stated that one of his chief priorities once the Senate convenes would be to lobby the national government to prioritize funding for the project.
“So far a livestock export processing zone has been designated within the Port area, meaning that steps should be taken to fund the county government to build its livestock sector, which is in dire need of funding,” he said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Lamu West MP Stanley Muthama who stated that the national government should continue in its pursuit to diversify the port’s portfolio not only as a transshipment hub but as a fully operational import and export processing zone.
On his part Lamu Governor Issa Timamy pledged his support for the LAPSSET project, which he said his administration would support in terms of implementation and realization.
Governor Timamy further emphasized the need for the county to aid in enabling the livestock export zone and promised to facilitate the allocation of land and marketing for the new port.
“The county government will by the end of this year facilitate an investor conference, whose key aim would be to find plausible answers to how the port’s potential can be realized,” Timamy said.
By Amenya Ochieng
